Hi, I’m Sue Randall

…qualified by life experience and formal qualifications. I’m a wellness coach who specialises in trauma recovery, grief support, and chronic or terminal illness.

I had a severe facial injury when I was ten, which left me with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD was not yet listed in the diagnostic manuals, and I received no diagnosis or treatment for it.

I had ongoing flashbacks from the incident, which interfered with my sleep for years to come. Insomnia affected my emotional and physical health, and by age 17 I was not coping. I dropped out of school, was hospitalised, and was given pills and psychotherapy.

In one therapy session I was taught deep relaxation, where I tensed and relaxed each muscle set in turn. This was not part of normal therapy – but it eased my anxiety better than talk therapy or medication. The experience made me wonder why psychologists did not routinely address body stress. I also wondered why deep relaxation was not taught at schools. It’s a great life skill.

I had been reading psychology since I was 13, and as began feeling better I read more widely, delving into spiritual traditions. I meditated regularly.

In my thirties, I lived at a retreat centre for six years, where my understanding of Buddhist philosophy and mindful practices deepened. During that period, I completed my MA in research psychology (Wits, 2006).

It took me a while to discover the field of trauma therapy. During my undergraduate studies, there was little awareness of this field in mainstream psychology in South Africa. By the time I finished my master’s degree, things were changing. Experts such as Stephen Porges, Peter Levine, and Bessel van der Kolk were pioneers in the field of trauma recovery.

I found my niche, healing, and calling in this field. I qualified as a Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) provider in 2018. In 2022, I obtained a certificate in trauma counselling.

My childhood experiences shaped the path I would follow in adulthood, ultimately leading me to become a wellness coach.

It turned out that I had another condition – in addition to PTSD – that doctors and psychiatrists had missed in my childhood. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic condition that limits my stamina and can cause anxiety and insomnia. It was diagnosed a few years ago, in my fifties. The diagnosis finally made sense of some lifelong challenges and helped me make more informed choices.

I joined support groups on social media and learned about a medication that has been life-changing for managing my pain and fatigue, called low-dose naltrexone (LDN).

Living with undiagnosed conditions taught me to be responsible for my health. We might not always know what is “wrong” medically, and the quality of medical help we receive can vary over time, but we should still keep our lifestyle as healthy as possible.

Becoming a wellness coach was an extension of my personal journey. As a coach, I help clients identify what makes them well and happy and what brings them down. Usually this means breaking down problems that seem unsolvable into smaller steps, so that we can identify goals that are realistic and achievable.

I also encourage people to persist in getting good medical care. People in my sort of situation often give up on doctors, forgetting that we’re all just human beings, trying to help each other.

I continue to draw from both Eastern and Western practices. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindful CBT (MCBT) are very effective methods. In my sessions, I strive to be an active and empathic listener. I also coach clients in mindfulness and nervous system regulation, but I’m not currently practising as a TRE provider specifically.

Finally, I’m also a writer and editor. I’m writing about trauma recovery and pain management, and I recommend creative writing or journalling for some clients. Brain scan studies have shown that therapeutic writing, as well as practices like yoga, can lead to positive changes in the brain functioning and structures of traumatised people (Bessel van der Kolk, 2014 – The Body Keeps The Score).